Chapter 9

The plasma storms continued and Irina couldn't deny that the fact pleased her. Every day that transmissions were blocked meant another day with Yelzin, another day where the Coalition couldn't track her.

And the days were good.

Yelzin took her to all of his favorite spots near his home, and she could see the appeal of a simple existence. Irina had been running her entire life, or so it seemed. Always desperate for safety, desperate to make a difference in some way, desperate for something that always seemed just out of reach.

That desperation had led her to jail, the courts, and eventually, Oblivion .

She didn't regret what she'd done, not in a million years, but she wished she'd been less hasty and more careful. Though she supposed that without Oblivion she never would have crash landed on Strine, never would have met Yelzin.

An interesting way of looking at it.

Art installations scattered the surrounding area, beautiful earthworks of stone and branch. Her favorite was an intricately interlaced nest built from the trunks of fallen trees. It was so large that Yelzin had to fly them into the center. He was clearly proud of his work, and the fanged grin made her heart flutter every time he showed her a new one.

With Yelzin, time slowed, and for once in her life, that didn't seem to bother Irina. She had nowhere to be and nothing to prove beyond being herself. There was something freeing about that.

Every night, he dutifully checked the information channel to see if he was receiving anything, and Irina's heart skipped each time they heard static. She spent her nights curled up with him in his nest, which was no longer feeling strange at all.

As she organized stones by color, she kept glancing at Yelzin, who was meticulously placing them in his installation. After he'd shown her all the artworks he'd created in the area, he'd asked if she wanted to make a new one with him.

Irina had never been much of an artist, always more inclined to the technical subjects, but how could she say no to that darling face? And when had she started considering his batlike face darling ?

She put him in charge of the design, though that didn't stop him from asking her opinion every step of the way. The process had taken them all day, but this was the last pile of stones to organize, a smile pulling at her lips during the monotonous work. It was like her brain turned off, all the tumultuous thoughts that normally rumbled around in there now totally absent.

They'd set up a nice system, walking hand in hand to the creek and collecting as many rocks as they could carry. Yelzin with a big armful and Irina with a small collection.

Then, back at the site, she would organize them by color, ranging from the darkest blacks to the lightest whites and all manner of grays in between. Yelzin had fashioned a circle of pitch black bark, creating an eerie void at the center of the piece, then placed the stones in an ombre pattern, blending from light to dark.

It was a striking sight, the black hole vibrating within a blend of shades, and Yelzin gave her the biggest smile when they were finished. He pulled her into a firm hug, holding her for a long time before finally letting go.

They'd barely spoken all day, but it had been a comfortable silence, like they'd known each other for years.

Now, as Irina examined him, she had the urge to tell him everything, the truth about her crimes and Oblivion.

The tracker .

The thought had been gnawing at the back of her mind, that perhaps he had a way to remove it. Yelzin didn't have any helpful technology or medical skills, but he did have healing blood.

It was too much to ask, knowing the dangers that tiny emitter could wreak on this world. And the image of him digging into her shoulder with no pain relief or medical supplies was horrifying, to say the least.

Yelzin's soft voice broke the silence of the embrace.

"Let us rest and enjoy the success of our endeavor. Hold on to me."

Irina surprised herself, wrapping her arms around his neck without a second thought. He lifted her in the air, then fluttered them up to a large tree, settling delicately on a wide branch. There was still a rush of exhilaration anytime they flew—no matter how short the distance—but she trusted him implicitly.

The branch was broad enough that Yelzin could lean against the trunk without his legs dangling off. Irina crawled over and he pulled her flush to him, letting her back rest against his chest.

From this height, the installation looked magical, like some sort of deity had left it there for mere mortals to find. The black hole in the center was a portal, sending you wherever you wished to go.

In this moment, Irina could think of no other place she'd rather be than in Yelzin's arms .

A frightening thought, one that made her chest ache with the knowledge of what was to come.

Still, it was important to enjoy the little moments while she could. Life in Athea would not be easy, even if she was able to get her tracker removed and forge a new identity. Certainly a stark difference from the peaceful simplicity of her life on Strine.

"What do you think, little one?"

"It's beautiful, Yelzin."

Irina was a little choked up, but she maneuvered around so she could face him, straddling his lap as she pressed a kiss to his snout.

"Irina," he murmured, hands already at her waist and pulling her closer.

There had been no touches other than gentle embraces and kisses for the past few days, Irina hesitant to make another move after the last time he'd spurned her. She knew he wanted it as much as she did, could tell from the way his chest heaved when they slept curled up in his nest, the way his eyes hooded as he held her in his arms.

She kissed him again, running fingers through soft fur. Even knowing that separation was inevitable, she needed to be close to him, needed his touch, even if it was one last time.

Yelzin moaned against her lips, and she pulled away to look at him.

"Please…." she said, her need overwhelming any fear of rejection.

He blinked, eyes ablaze with emotion, before nodding .

"Undress." His voice was gruff, his instructions clear, and Irina's heart flipped.

She stood on wobbly legs, comforted by the firm grip he had on her hips. Without wasting a moment, she shimmied out of her jumpsuit before falling back onto his lap.

Yelzin's cock was emerging from its sheath, first the soft tip, then the solid length, all the way to the bulbous base. Her eyes were wide as she examined it, running her fingers along the shaft as it settled between her legs. He quivered at her touch, a whimper sounding from his throat as she stroked him.

Conflict etched his face, hooded eyes contrasting with his gritted teeth.

"Do you want this, Yelzin?" Irina asked.

If he said no? Of course, she'd respect his wishes, but it might just kill her.

"Yes, my sweet human, I want you ."

Those were the only words she needed as she heaved herself up, settling the tip at the apex of her thighs, her entrance already dripping with need.

Slowly, Irina lowered herself, taking Yelzin inch by inch as she focused on relaxing her muscles. He was patient, gripping her hips tightly though she could see the strain on his face, could feel the tension in his body.

It took time, but finally she was settled back on his lap, her mind comfortably numb as her body strained with the intrusion. They sat there for a few moments, neither one moving, the connection between them entrancing .

"We fit so well together," Yelzin said as he licked along her neck, the words jolting her to awareness.

Irina said nothing as she started moving her hips, grinding her clit against him as a lump welled in her throat.

So what if they fit well together? It meant little if she were to leave him, leave the planet. Which she had to do.

Yelzin helped her along, rocking her body against his cock. It was so different from their first time, the rapturous pounding he'd given her while they were both blinded by blood lust. This satiated a different craving, an unspoken understanding of mutual affection washing over them.

Irina tried to focus on the intoxicating sensation of his enormous cock filling her to capacity, the warmth building with each roll of her hips. They did fit well together; it was impossible to say otherwise.

Even absorbed with her own pleasure, she couldn't help but notice Yelzin's deep gaze, his clawed grip at her waist, his tongue washing over her body as her gyrating hips became erratic. He kept his eyes on her as he swirled circles around her nipples, the intensity of his stare tightening her throat.

Focus .

When her legs grew weary and she slowed, Yelzin took over, moving her against his cock until white dotted her vision. Irina arched her back, arms wrapped around his neck as she breathed slowly and deeply, letting the pleasure course through her entire body .

Tears burned at her eyes as she orgasmed, sliding herself in his arms as the all-encompassing avalanche of release raged through her. This felt right, it was right, but it couldn't be.

A long, low whimper rumbled in her throat as she slumped against his chest, his fingers massaging her back as he held her.

Irina relaxed as she quivered atop him with blissful aftershocks. When they finally subsided, she looked into his eyes, confusion furrowing her brows.

"Why did you stop? I promise I won't freak out about the barbs like I did last time."

Yelzin just laughed, though his hands still gently ran up and down her spine.

"Oh, Irina, I am just happy to see your pleasure. You are so beautiful when you give in to release. Beautiful human."

His voice was so low it was almost a growl, the words bathing her in their warmth. A tear spilled down her cheek, but he just pulled her in close without another word. Irina breathed in his scent, focusing on the strength of his embrace, the oneness as they stayed connected.

She was almost asleep in his arms when he spoke again.

"What will happen once the plasma storms subside? Once you can get through to your friends?"

Friends . Irina tried not to scoff. She had no friends, not unless you counted anonymous online acquaintances, people who only knew her as @TethysTitan .

Tethys of Greek mythology, the primeval mother by some accounts, as opposed to the more commonly held tradition that it was Gaia. Tethys was the mother of rivers, deep-eddying Eriadnus one of her offspring charting the way to the underworld. It was how Irina had gotten the inspiration for the name.

"Hopefully, someone will come pick me up."

Simple. No details.

"Would you… like a companion? On your travels? I know I have no money or skill with computers, but…" Yelzin trailed off, his darting eyes betraying his desperation.

Irina pulled away from his chest, her brows creased with a frown. She knew it would come to this, but hated having to say the words.

"Yelzin… it would be better if I went alone."

He nodded, and kept nodding, not even bothering with an argument. Irina cupped his cheek, trying to keep the tears from spilling. Tears she'd held in for so long that now tempted to drop at a whim.

What was happening to her?

The hardened shell she'd created to protect herself was crumbling, a thought both horrifying and freeing.

" I'm sorry ." Her voice was a harsh croak.

"I understand."

Yelzin's response was gentle, but it was clear from the way his body drooped that he didn't understand .

How could she say that it had everything to do with her and nothing to do with him without giving away too much?

There were a few long, strained minutes of silence, the hooting of a bird in the distance the only sound puncturing the tension. Irina felt his heartbeat pounding against her, the knot in her throat threatening to spill a waterfall of tears.

Finally, Yelzin spoke. "We should get back."

There was no emotion in his voice, as neutral as a computer onboard a shuttlecraft. Irina nodded, crawling out of his lap as his cock slipped out of her. It slowly retracted into its sheath as she awkwardly pulled her jumpsuit back on.

Irina tried to tell herself that this had to be done, but that didn't make it hurt any less.